Fluid-pressure engine, pump, and compressor



Sept- 30, 1930- H. R.4 RICARDO r-:T AL 1,776,982

FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE. PUMP, AND COMPRESSO- R Fned' April 11. 1927 2 sheets-Sham 1 fr F/G 2 2/ @gaa M 99M V wwf/f.

SePtf 30, l930- H.'R. RICARDO ET Az. 1,776,982

FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE, PUMP, AND COMPRESSOR Filed April 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet P.

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Patented Sept. 30, 1930 UNITED STATESvr PATENT OFFICE HARRY RALPH RICARDO, or LONDON,` ANDYJOHN Fonsrnn Arcocx, or won'rHING,

ENGLAND; SAID ALCOCIK` ASSIGNOR TO SAID RICARDO FLUID-PRESSURE ENGINE, PUMP, AND COMPRESSOR Application led'Aprl 11, 1927, Serial No. 182,884, and in Great Britain April 22, 1926.

This invention relates to fluid pressure engines, pumps and compressors of the Isleeve valve type in whichthe sleeves have motion imparted thereto from a plurality of rotating sleeve operating members, and has for its object to provide improved actuating vmechanism for such sleeve operating members which'will be inexpensivefto produce and silentV inV operation.

The invention may be applied tofluid pres;

each ksleeve from a rotating member through a spherical joint or other flexible coupling eccentrically mounted on such'member. i

In multicylinder engines of the above general type it is general-ly necessary to provide a separate sleeve operating member for the sleeve or sleeves controlling the ports -in each cylinder and a diiiiculty arises in providing a drive for these members which shall at once be silent in operation and inexpensive to pro-V duce. In known constructions some form of gearing has generally Vbeen employed for this purpose but gearing, to be satisfactory, requires a high degree of accuracy in construction both as regardsthegears themselves and as regards the relativeV positions of the vari-- ous shafts carrying the gears, anda gear drive is, therefore, expensive. The present invention eliminates to, a large extent such gearing and provides an arrangement which does not require such accurate construction as was necessary where gearing was eme Ployed; l i ,v v 4 According to the present invention an interconnection is provided between each of the rotary sleeve operating members and a mem ber to which a combined oscillating and reciprocating motion is imparted by mecha- .that the axes of the circlesfollowed'by the endsof'the arms on the oscillating and reciprocating member do not coincide with the axes of rotation of the sleeve operating mem` bers or, alternatively, by-employing operating arms for the sleeve operating members of different lengths from the arm through which motion is imparted to the oscillating and reciprocating member.V

In engi-nes having only a single row'of cylinders all the sleeve operating members will normally be arranged in a rowwith their axes parallel to one another, but in engines of the V or other types having two or more rows of cylinders a separate row `of sleeve operating members Awillfnorrnally bev provided for each cylinder row andfin this case either a separate oscillating and reciprocating member maybe provided to operate each row of sleeve operating members or one voscillating and reciprocating member may op-Y erate the sleeve operating members `for two rows of cylinders. l i The inertia forces due to the motion of the oscillating and reciprocating member may be balanced by counter-weights on the various rotating members or onshaftsv specially provided for the purpose, or other known means may be` employed.

l The invention may be carried outin vari.

ous ways, but-twov alternative constructions according to this invention are-illustrated accompanying drawings, in which.V

FigureV l is a diagrammatic 'perspective view ofone form of sleeve valve operating mechanism according tothis invention,

Figure 2 isa similar view to FigureV l of an alternative form of sleeve valve operating mechanism according tothis invention, i

Figure 3 is a section on the axisr4 of one of diagrammatically byway of example in the the sleeve operating memthe rotary sleeve-operating members showing a constructional form which may be employed in either of the arrangements shown in Figures Il and 2, and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

In the construction illustrated in Figure l the operating gear is for an engine of the four-cylinder type in which the inlet and exhaust ports in each cylinder wall are controlled by a single sleeve valve A having a combined oscillating and reciprocating motion imparted thereto. rlChe desired motion is imparted to each sleeve by a short rotary sleeve operating member B mounted in bearings B1 with its axis at right angles to the axis of the sleeve and to a point eccentric to the axis of rotation of which the sleeve is con` nected by means of a crank pin or the like B2 engaging a spherical joint or other fiexible coupling in the sleeve in known manner. Alternatively a pin carried by the sleeve may engage with a spherical joint or the like eccentrically mounted in the member B.

The end of each of the rotary sleeve operating members B remote from the sleeve carries at a point eccentric to its axis of rotation a spherical joint or other flexible coupling D which is engaged by the free end E1 of an arm E carried on an intermediate shaft F mounted to slide and oscillate in bearings F1 carried by the engine casing. The shaft F is disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of the sleeve operating shafts B and is adapted to have motion imparted thereto by mechanism driven from the crank shaft G of the engine, a combined oscillating and reciprocating motion such that the outer ends El of the arms E thereon will move in substantially circular paths and thus will cause rotation of the rotary sleeve valve operating members B. rI'he spherical joint D through which the motion is transmitted from the end El of each arm E to its rotary sleeve operating member B is conveniently mounted in a radial slot H which permits it to move radially or axially but not circumferentially relatively to its rotary sleeve operating member B so as to allow for the swinging movement of the arms E and for any slight inaccuracies which may exist in the relative positions of the various parts or in the motion impart-ed to the oscillating and reciprocating shaft F. In this way it will be seen that jamming of the parts due to small inaccuracies in alignment are prevented since such errors can be'taken up either by radial movement of the spherical joints D or by rotational movement of the sleeve operating members B, only slight irregularity in the rotation of the members B` resulting in either case.

The desired oscillating and reciprocating motion may be imparted to the shaft F in various ways. In the construction shown in Figure l a short driving member J similar to and disposed parallel to the rotary sleeve operating members B is connected to the free end K1 of a radial arm K on the intermediate shaft by means of a spherical joint or other flexible coupling as shown. In some cases this spherical joint may be mounted in a radial slot in the driving member J but in such a construction the spherical joint connecting one of the arms E to its rotary member B must be held from radial movement relatively to its rotary member so as to cnsure the correctmotion of the member F. The rotary driving member J is operatively connected through suitable gearing L, L1, L2 to the crank shaft Gr, this gearing conveniently including a worm or skew gear L3 or other form of right angle drive and being suoli that the shaft J will be rotated at half crank shaft speed.

In the alternative construction illustrated in Figure 2 the arrangement of the rotary sleeve operating members B and their connections with the sleeves A and the arms E of the oscillating and reciprocating member F is similar to that employed in the arrangement shown in Figure 1. In the construction shown in Figure 2, however, the desired oscillating and reciprocating motion is imparted to the shaft F through a second oscillating and reciprocating member M having its axis at right angles to that of the member F. The member M is adapted to slide and also to oscillate in vertical bearings M1 and has two arms M2, M3, one of which M: is connected through a spherical joint or the like to the free end of the driving arm K on the shaft F while the other M engages a spherical joint or the like N1 mounted in a gear wheel N driven through gearing N2 from the crank shaft G. In this a substantially circular motion is imparted to the outer end of the arm M2 whereby the de sired combined oscillating and reciprocating motion is imparted to the member F.

Figures 3 and 4 show a constructional form which may be employed in either of the arrangements diagrammatically illustrated in Figures l and 2.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the oscillating and reciprocating member F is constructed as a hollow tube so as to have relatively great torsional stiifness while the radial arms E and K thereon are formed separately from this tube and are connected thereto by passing their inner ends E2 through the tube and maintaining them in position by means of nuts E3. The outer end El of each arm is conveniently formed spherical as shown and constitutes the inner member of the spherical joint D, the outer member of this joint surrounding the spherical end of the arm and being provided with oppositely disposed flat outer surfaces adapted to engage with the sides ofthe slot H in the rotary sleeve operating member B so as to be slidable therein.

The outer member of the spherical joint D is further conveniently formed in two halves held together between the sides of the slot in which it is disposed. Y

The rotary sleeve-operating members B are each conveniently in the form of a short drum as shown carried in bearings B1 which completely surround itV and are mounted in the engine casing F2. Each drum B carries a crank pin orthe like B2 which engages a spherical or other self-aligning joint B3 in the sleeve A whereby motion istra-nsmitted from the rotary members B to the sleeves.

It is obvious that the rotary motion imparted to one or more of the drums Bm'ay be utilized to drive some element other than' a sleeve valve. For instance, a magneto or other -auxiliary device associated with the engine may be driven in this manner.

It will be seen that with sleeve operating mechanism according-.to this invention the amount of gearing required is small as compared with arrangements previously Agenerk ally employedso that a reduction in the `cost of production is eiected while the sleeve operating mechanism will be practically silent in operation. Y

It is to be understood that the details of construction and the manner in which the desired motio-n is imparted to the oscillating and reciprocating member maybe varied within wide limits without departing from this invention. y

What we clam as our invention Vand desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a mechanical movement, the combi-V nation with aV rotary driven element, of a member mounted for rectilinear reciproca` tion transversely of the axis of said element and for rotation, an armon said member, means operatively connected to lsaid member `for causing the outer portion of said arm to follow a deinite substantially circular path, and `means mounted on said element :tor movement radially thereof having a pivotal connection with said arm.

` 2. In a mechanical movement, the combi nation with a Arotary element, of Vmeans mounted to rotate about an axis parallel with.

the axis of rotation of said element, a member mounted for rotation and for rectilinear reciprocation transversely of the axis of said i, element, a pivotal connection between said means and said member, and a pivotal connection freely slidable radially of said element between said element and said member.

l3. In a mechanical'movement, the combi# nation with a rotary element, of means mounted to rotateV on an axis parallel with the axis of said element, a member mounted for rotation and for rectilinear reciprocation transversely of the Vaxis of said element, a pivotalconnection between said means and saidmembeigwand a pivotal connection vloetweensaid member and said element freely movable radially of said element. Y f4. `Mechanism forV transmitting* motion comprising a member .having a combined alternating rotaryandrectilinear reciprocating motion, a plurality of rotatable members disposed with their axes substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the alternate rotating and reciprocating member, a series of arms on the alternate rotating and Areciprocating member, a driving member having circular motion about .an axis substantially at right angles to that of theA alter nate rotating and reciprocating member and connected to the freeend of one of the arms thereon' so as to impart the desired alternate rotation and reciprocating motion to, such member, and a connection between the free end of each of the'remaining arms and one of the rotary members whereby the movement of the alternate rotating and reciprocating member will cause rotation of each and all of these'rotary members, the connection between the fr ee end of an arm and its j. Vassociated partbeing such in the case of every arm but one that there is permitted to the free end of the arm airadial movement relatively to the axis about which moves the member to which it is connected. r

5.'Mechanism for transmitting motion comprising p a member having a combined alternating rotary and rectilinear reciprocating motion, a plurality of rotable members disposed with their axes substantially at vright angles to the axis of rotation of the alternate rotating and reciprocating member, a series of arms on the alternate rotating and reciprocating member, a driving member having circula-r Vmotion about an axis substantially at right angles to that of the'alternate rotating and reciprocating member, a

connection between the free end of one of the arms and the driving member whereby the desired motion will be imparted to the alternate rotating and reciprocating member, and

a connection between the -free end of each of theremaining arms and one of the rotary members whereby the movement of the alter@ f nate rotating and reciprocating member will cause rotation of each and all of the rotary members, such connections being so oo nstructed and arranged that there is permitted to the free end Vof each arm a radial move-V ment relatively to the axis of rotation oi the rotarymemberto which it is connected.

6. Mechanism' for transmitting motion comprising a member having a combined al-V izo ternating rotary and rectilinear reciprocat- Y angles to that of the alternating rotating and reciprocating member, a series of arms on the alternating rotating and reciprocating member, a ball member on the free end of each arm, one of such ball members engaging a socket in the driving member whereby the desired motion is imparted to the alternate rotating and reciprocating member, a socket member mounted so as to be capable of sliding in a radial slot in each rotary member7 each of these socket members being en` gaged by the ball member on the free encl of one of the remaining arms as set forth.

In testimony whereof We have signed our l names to this specification.

HARRY RALPH RICARDO. JOHN FORSTER ALCOCK. 

